Mechanism for converting predetermined input speed to random output speed



J 1967 H. H. TORMOLEN 3,299,228

MECHANISM FOR CONVERTING PREDETERMINED INPUT SPEED TO RANDOM OUTPUTSPEED Filed Jan. 28, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l MECHANISM FOR CONVERTINGPREDETERMINED INPUT Jan. 17, 1967 H. H. TQRMOLEN 3,299,228

SPEED TO RANDOM OUTPUT SPEED Filed Jan. 28, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2mechanism.

cycle to the next. 'wide variety of uses exist for a mechanism capableof of rotation.

United States Patent F 3,299 228 MECHANISM FOR COliVERTING PREDETER-MINED INPUT SPEED T0 RANDOM OUTPUT SPEED Hans H. Tormolen, 3142 Sumter,Dallas, Tex. 75220 Filed Jan. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 428,801 20 Claims. (Cl.200-18) The present invention relates to a random operating In a morespecific aspect, the present invention relates to a control device forconverting a constant speed of rotation to an irregular speed ofrotation. In a still more specific aspect, the present invention relatesto a mechanism for operating a plurality of switches in a substantiallycompletely random fashion.

In the operation of present-day electrical advertising signs, animateddevices, or other mechanisms utilized in the advertising art, the toyart and other like-areas, it is known that such devices can be operatedat substantially constant speeds, or can be turned off and on atpredetermined irregular intervals on a repetitive cycle. However, therehas heretofore been no mechanism by which a device can be operated at anirregular speed by a drive means operating at a constant speed and,particularly, at an irregular speed which is essentially non-repetitive.

.It has also been heretofore impossible to provide random operation ofswitching devices and the like at irregular intervals which aresubstantially non-repetitive from one It is, therefore, quite obviousthat a converting a constant speed to a random speed or switchingoperation. The number of such uses within the advertising, toy andrelated fields are far too numerous and obvious to mention more than afew examples.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide amechanism for converting a constant speed of rotation to an irregularspeed of rotation.

Still another object of the present invention is to prorotation to anirregular and substantially random speed Another and further object ofthe present invention is 'to provide a mechanism for operating aplurality of invention will be apparent from the following detaileddescription, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view, partially in section, of

a random switch mechanism in accordance with the pres-. .ent invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view, partially in section of the cam meansutilized in the device of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are elevational views of the pulleys utilized in thedevice of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view, partially in section, of a modifiedswitching mechanism which may be used in the device of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of still another switch element whichmay be used in the switching device of FIGURE 5; and

ice

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view, partially in section, showing ananimated device operable by the mechanism of the present invention.

In accordance with FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the random control deviceof the present invention is shown operating a switch means for anelectrical light system. In FIGURE 1, the operating mechanism issupported by upstanding frame sections 10 and 12, respectively. Framesections 10 and 12 are held together by elongated bolts 14 and nuts 16adapted to fit on the ends of bolts 14 in clamping engagement with framesection 12. Passing through frame sections 10 and 12 near the bottomthereof, is drive shaft 18. For ease of operation, suitable bearings 20and 22 may be mounted in frame sections 10 and 12. Bearings 20 and 22can be conventional roller bearings, nylon hearings or the like. Coupledto drive shaft 18 is motor 24. Motor 24 can be of any variety or type.Although electrical lead lines are not shown, motor 24 in the presentinstance is preferably an electrical motor. Fixedly coupled at one endof shaft 18 adjacent motor 24 is irregular pulley 26 and fixedly coupledto the other end of shaft 18 .is irregular pulley 28. Pulleys 26 and 28,as will be pointed out hereinafter, may take any irregular shape, suchas, the irregular pentagon shape of 26, the irregular triangular shapeof 28, or the like. Fixedly attached to frame section 10 on the interiorside thereof is switch disc 30. Switch disc 30 carries switches 32, 34,36, 38 and 40 spaced thereon adjacent its periphery. Switches 32 through40 may be any appropriate switch. In the example shown, these switchesare normally-closed microswitches having protruding buttons 42 through50, designed to break the circuit through the switch when the button ispushed. Switches 32 through 40 may be multiplied in number and,preferably, there should be a large number of such switches. However,only 5 switches have been shown for convenience of illustration. Inaddition, the hereinafter mentioned random operation of the switchingdevice can be further varied by spacing the switches at differentangular locations on disc 30, rather than at equally-spaced angularlocations. Connected to switches 32 to 40, in a manner known to thoseskillw in the art, is electrical supply line 52 leading from one side ofa suitable source of electrical energy 54. The other side of source 54is connected to line 56 which is common to each of lights 58, 60, 62, 64and 66. Leading from lights 58, 60, 62, 64 and 66 tothe other side ofswitches 32 through 40 are electrical lines 68, 70, 72, 74 and 76,respectively. Passing through and rotatable in frame section 10 and disc30 is drive shaft 78. Drive shaft 78 has a cylindrical hole boredthrough its right hand end for reasons which will be pointed outhereinafter. Keyed to and therefore rotatable with shaft 78 is disc 80.Disc 80 has formed therein on its inward surface radial slot 82. Passingthrough support 12 as by means of bearing 84 is shaft 86. Shaft 86 is ofa size such that it will fit inside and rotate within the cylindricalbore in the end of shaft 78. Thus, shafts 86 and 78 form a split shaftand each section can rotate at a different speed. Keyed to shaft 86 androtatable therewith is cam means 88. Cam means 88 includes off-centercircular disc or cam 90, which is keyed to shaft 86, and operating leveror cam follower 92, which surrounds olf-center cam 90 and within whichcam 90 may rotate. Follower 92 has formed on one side thereof, facingdisc 80, dog element 94. Dog element 94 is sized and shaped to fitwithin slot 82 and slide along this slot. It is obvious that if disc 80were held stationary, and dog 94 'back and forth toward and away fromthe periphery of disc 30. Now, if disc 80 is also rotated, follower 92will depress one of switch buttons 42 through 50, depending upon theangular location of follower 92 at the time operating arm 92 is in itsextended position. Thus, means is provided for periodically opening thecircuits to lights 58 through 66.

Fixedly coupled to shaft 78 is regular circular pulley 96, and fixedlycoupled to shaft 86 is regular circular pulley 98. Pulleys 96 and 98 canalso be irregularly shaped as is the case with pulleys 26 and 28.Passing over pulleys 26 and 96 is flexible elastic belt 100, and passingover pulleys 26 and 98 is a similar belt 102. Belts 100 and 102constitute any flexible elastic transmission means, such as, rubberbands, spring cables, elastic plastics or the like, the only criterionbeing that belts 100 and 102 stretch to accommodate the enlarged orirregular corners of pulleys 26 and 28. Preferably, belts 100 and 102are rubber bands. As motor 24 operates at a constant speed, theirregularity of pulley 26 will drive shaft 86 at an irregular speed.Similarly, the irregularity of pulley 28 results in shaft 78 also beingdriven at an irregular speed, and since 26 and 28 differ in shape, thespeeds of shafts 86 and 78 differ with respect to one another. Thecombination of the irregular speeds results in a completely random orirregular operation of the switching mechanism. The randomness ofoperation can, of course, be varied even more by using irregular pulleysfor pulleys 96 and 98 and distributing switches 32 through 40 at randomdistances around the periphery of disc 30 or by any one of a variety ofother means. Also by using rubber belts 100 and 102 a certain degree ofrandomness or irregularity of operation is caused by changes intemperature or humidity. The rubber belts have a tendency to slip undernormal conditions and this is often accentuated by changes inatmospheric conditions.

FIGURE of the drawings illustrates a modified version of a switchingdevice useful in accordance with the present invention. In the switchingdevice of FIGURE 5, shaft 78 is keyed to disc 80, and slot 82 is formedin disc 80, as in the device shown in FIGURE 1. Also as in FIGURE 1,shaft 86 passes through an appropriate cam mechanism. However, theswitches and the cam means differ in the present embodiment. Inaccordance with the present modification, a disc 104 of an insulatingmaterial is held in a stationary position, with respect to rotatableshaft 78, by means not shown. Disc 104 has embedded in it'electricallyconductive rings 106 and 108. Connected to conductive rings 106 and 108in the rear of disc 104 are appropriate electrical lines 110 and 112,respectively. While only two conductive rings are shown in the presentinvention, it is quite obvious that many more should preferably be usedin order to operate a large number of electrical devices in randomfashion. Keyed to rotatable shaft 86 is off-center circular disc or cam114. Slideably surrounding and rotatable about cam 114 is cam followerelement 116. Cam 114 is made of a suitable electrical insulatingmaterial, whereas cam follower 116 is made of a conductive mtaerial. Camfollower 116 carries projecting dog 118, which is adapted to fit withinand slide in slot 82. Also appropriately mounted on follower 116 iscontact 120 which is likewise made of an electrical conducting materialand is adapted to alternately contact one or both of conductive rings106 and 108 when shaft 86 is positioned in shaft 78 and dog 118 is inslot 82. The other side of the electrical devices being operated by theswitch mechanism are connected to common electrical line 122. Line 122is, in turn, connected to electricallyconductive wiper 124. Wiper 124 ismounted on insulating ring 126 which, in turn, is mounted on shaft 86.

' Wiper 124 is held in a stationary position in contact with follower116, by means not shown, and shaft 86 rotates with respect thereto, asdoes follower 116. Electrical contact is thus maintained betweenrotating follower 116 and are not shown in the drawing.

wiper 124 so that the circuit to the elements being operated may becompleted through follower 116, contact and one or more of conductiverings 106 and 108. The shafts 78 and 86 of the switch are rotated in thesame manner as previously described in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 illustrates still another form of a stationary plate or discfor a switch such as that of FIGURE 5. In accordance with FIGURE 6, disc128 is made of a nonconductive material. Embedded in disc 128 areconductive segments 130, 132, 134, 136, 138 and 140. Segments through140 are appropriately connected to one side of an equal number ofelectrical devices to be operated by the switch. For simplicity, suchconnections The disc of FIGURE 6 would operate in cooperation with thesame type of cam means shown in FIGURE 5, the only difference betweenthe two being that the conductive segments 130 through 140 replaceconductive rings, such as 106 and 108 which form a complete circle.Thus, more electrical elements can be randomly operated and the degreeof randomness is further accentuated in the device of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 7 illustrates still another use to which the irregular speeddrive of the present invention may be put. In FIGURE 7 an animateddevice, shown in the form of a dog, comprise-s a body member 142, a tailmember 144, and a head member 146. Tail member 144 is pivoted on bodymember 142 by pivot 148. Similarly, head member 146 is pivoted on body142 by pivot 150. Pivots 148 and 150 provide the primary attachment oftail 144 and head 146 to body 142. Pivotally connected to tail 144 isconnecting rod 152. Connecting rod 152 has its opposite end pivoted onrotatable disc 154 adjacent the periphery of disc 154. Disc 154 is, inturn, mounted on a rotatable shaft 156. Also mounted on shaft 156, butnot shown, is a conventional round pulley. Passing over the round pulleyand therefore turning shaft 156 is elastic belt 158. Elastic belt 158also passes over irregularly-shaped pulley 160. Irregularly-shapedpulley 160 is, in turn, driven by a constant speed motor (not shown)through shaft 162. In like manner, connecting rod 164 is pivoted on headmember 146 and is pivotally connected to rotatable disc 166 adjacent theperiphery thereof. Disc 166 is mounted on and rotates with shaft 168.Shaft 168 also carries a conventional round pulley (not shown). Theelastic belt 170 passes over the round pulley and also overirregularly-shaped pulley 172. Irregularly-shaped pulley 172 is mountedon shaft 174 which is driven by a motor (not shown). The motor drive forshaft 174 is preferably the same motor utilized to drive shaft 162. Fromwhat has been previously discussed, it is obvious that the operation ofa motor at a constant speed will cause disc 154 and disc 166 to rotateat two different irregular speeds. These irregular speeds of rotationare converted to irregular reciprocating movement of connecting rods 152and 164 and these connecting rods, in turn, transmit irregularreciprocating movements to tail member 144 and head member 146. Inaddition, as is obvious from the previous discussion, the irregularmovement of tail 144 will be completely different than the irregularmovement of head member 146. It is also quite obvious that a cam orother mechanism which will add to the randomness of operation can beinterposed between the element being operated and the operating means inthe same fashion as is done in the switching devices of FIGURES 1through 6, and that irregularly-shaped pulleys rather than round pulleyscan be mounted on shafts 156 and 168. 7

While specific devices have been shown for purposes of illustration andspecific examples and alternatives have been suggested, it is to berecognized that various modifications and variations of the presentinvention will occur to one skilled in the art. Accordingly, the presentinvention is to be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A randomly-operable switching device, comprising:

(a) a stationary frame member;

(b) an electrical motor;

(0) a horizontally-disposed, elongated driving shaft operativelyconnected to said motor;

(d) first and second irregularly-shaped pulleys, having at least threestraight sides defining their periphery, coupled to said drive shaft andspaced from one another thereon;

(e) a first vertically-disposed disc fixedly attached to said framemember;

(f) first and second horizontally-disposed driven shafts,

parallel to and spaced from said driving shaft;

(g) a first of said driven shafts passing through and rotatable in saidfirst disc and one side of said frame member and the second of saiddriven shafts passing through the opposite side of said frame, and saiddriven shafts being coupled together in a manner to rotate independentlyof one another;

(h) first and second circular pulleys coupled to said first and seconddriven shafts, respectively, and laterally opposite said first andsecond irregular pulleys, respectively;

(i) first and second elastic belts operatively coupling said firstcircular pulley to said first irregular pulley and said second circularpulley to said second in regular pulley;

(j) a second vertically-disposed disc coupled to said first driven shaftand rotatable therewith;

(k) a third disc coupled to said second driven shaft off-center toproduce an off-center cam action when rotated by said second drivenshaft;

(1) a cam follower, carrying an operating arm, operatively coupled tosaid second disc to rotate therewith and operatively following themovements of said third disc to reciprocate in a slot in said secgnddisc in response to the movements of said third isc;

(m) a plurality of switches mounted on the face of said first disc andspaced about the periphery thereof at radial distances such that saidswitches are individually-operated by said operating arm when saidoperating arm is in its most extended position and in 51 radial positionadjacent the switch in question; an

(n) a plurality of electrical lighting elements, equal in number to thenumber of said switches, electrically connected to said switches andadapted to be turned off and on by individual ones of said switches.

2. A randomly-operable switching device, comprising:

(a) a stationary frame member;

(1)) an electrical motor;

(0) a horizontally-disposed, elongated driving shaft operativelyconnected to said motor;

(d) first and second irregularly-shapedpulleys, having at least threestraight sides defining their periphery, coupled to said drive shaft andspaced from one another thereon;

(e) a first vertically-disposed disc fixedly attached to said framemember;

(f) first and second horizontally-disposed driven shafts,

parallel to and spaced from said driving shaft;

(g) a first of said driven shafts passing through and rotatable in saidfirst disc and one side of said frame member and the second of saiddriven shafts passing through the opposite side of said frame, and saiddriven shafts being coupled together in a manner to rotate independentlyof one another;

(h) first and second circular pulleys coupled to said first and seconddriven shafts, respectively, and laterally opposite said first andsecond irregular pulleys, respectively;

(i) first and second elastic belts operatively coupling said firstcircular pulley to said first irregular pulley and said second circularpulley to said second irregular. pulley;

(j) a second vertically-disposed disc coupled to said first driven shaftand rotatable therewith;

(k) cam means, including an operating arm, adapted to convert rotationalmovement of said second driven shaft to radial, reciprocating motion ofsaid operating arm;

(1) said cam means being operatively coupled to said second disc in amanner such that said operating arm rotates with said second disc;

(m) a plurality of switches mounted on the face of said first disc andspaced about the periphery thereof at radial distances such that saidswitches are individually operated by said operating arm when saidoperating arm is in its most extended position and in a radial positionadjacent the switch in question; and

(n) a plurality of electrical lighting elements equal in number to thenumber of said switches, electrically connected to said switches andadapted to be turned off and on by individual ones of said switches.

3. A random operating mechanism, comprising:

(a) a driving means adapted to operate at a predetermined rotativespeed;

(b) a driven means adapted to be driven at a random rotative speeddiffering from the predetermined rotative speed of said driving means;

(c) at least one first pulley means operatively coupled to and adaptedto be rotated by said driving means;

(d) at least one second pulley means operatively coupled to and adaptedto drive said driven means;

(6) at least one of said pulley means having at least two points on theperiphery thereof spaced different radial distances from the center ofrotation of said one pulley means; and

(f) at least one elastic belt means operatively connecting said firstand said second pulley means.

4. A mechanism in accordance with claim 3 wherein the driving means isan electrical motor.

5. A mechanism in accordance with claim 3 wherein the predeterminedrotative speed of the driving means is constant.

6. A mechanism in accordance with claim 3 wherein the driven means is arotary switch means.

7. A mechanism in accordance with claim 6 wherein the rotary switchmeans has a plurality of individual switching elements adapted to makeand break the circuits of an equal number of electrical devices.

8. A mechanism in accordance with claim 7 wherein the electrical devicesare light means.

9. A mechanism in accordance with claim 3 wherein the driven means is amechanically rotated device.

10. A mechanism in accordance with claim 3 wherein rotative movement ofthe driving means is converted to reciprocating movement in the drivenmeans.

11. A mechanism in accordance with claim 3 wherein the driven meansincludes two operatively connected parts capable of being drivenseparately.

12. A mechanism in accordance with claim 11 wherein the two parts of thedriven means are driven at differing rotative speeds by adding a secondset of first and second pulley means and a second elastic beltoperatively connecting said second set of pulley means and operativelyconnecting said second set of pulley means to one of said parts andoperatively connecting the first-mentioned set of pulley means to theother of said parts.

13. A mechanism in accordance with claim 12 which additionally includeslink means operatively connecting one of the parts of the driven meansto one of said second pulley means, whereby the rotative movement ofsaid one part of said driven means is converted to reciprocatingmovement.

14. A mechanism in accordance with claim 12 which additionally includesfirst and second link means operatively connecting the two parts of thedriven means to the first and second of said second pulley means,respectively, whereby the rotative movement of both of said parts ofsaid driven means is converted to reciprocating movement.

15. A mechanism in accordance with claim 3 wherein the periphery of atleast one of the pulley means is defined by a plurality of substantiallystraight sides.

16. A mechanism in accordance with claim 15 wherein at least two of thestraight sides of the pulley means differ in length.

17. A mechanism in accordance with claim 15 wherein all of the straightsides of the pulley means differ in length from one another.

18. A mechanism in accordance with claim 15 wherein the periphery of thepulley means is triangular.

19. A mechanism in accordance with claim 15 wherein the periphery of thepulley means is defined by more than three straight sides.

20. A mechanism in accordance with claim 3 wherein the elastic belt is arubber belt.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS1867 Great Britain.

5 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

I. R. SCOTT, Assistant Examiner.

3. A RANDOM OPERATING MECHANISM, COMPRISING: (A) A DRIVING MEANS ADAPTEDTO OPERATE AT A PREDETERMINED ROTATIVE SPEED; (B) A DRIVEN MEANS ADAPTEDTO BE DRIVEN AT A RANDOM ROTATIVE SPEED DIFFERING FROM THE PREDETERMINEDROTATIVE SPEED OF SAID DRIVING MEANS; (C) AT LEAST ONE FIRST PULLEYMEANS OPERATIVELY COUPLED TO AND ADAPTED TO BE ROTATED BY SAID DRIVINGMEANS; (D) AT LEAST ONE SECOND PULLEY MEANS OPERATIVELY COUPLED TO ANDADAPTED TO DRIVE SAID DRIVEN MEANS; (E) AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PULLEYMEANS HAVING AT LEAST TWO POINTS ON THE PERIPHERY THEREOF SPACEDDIFFERENT RADIAL DISTANCES FROM THE CENTER OF ROTATION OF SAID ONEPULLEY MEANS; AND (F) AT LEAST ONE ELASTIC BELT MEANS OPERATIVELYCONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SAID SECOND PULLEY MEANS.